Sign board

ABSTRACT

A double-sided display sign for use by gas stations and the like. The sign is made from a plurality of rolled metal sections. A first set of rolled metal sections are assembled to form a rectangular frame. A double-sided sign board is mounted within the frame and is fabricated from a plurality of two differently shaped rolled metal sections to provide a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontal display element support members on each side of the sign board. Display elements are releasably attached to said support members by attachment clips.

United States Patent [191 Jaquillard Feb. 26, I974 [5 1 SIGN BOARD3,696,441 10/1972 Pittman 40/142 R [76] Inventor: George E. Jaquillard,27600 Latin-up, Lathr'up v l Mich Primary Examiner-Wm. H. Grieb 48076Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobertG. Mentag [22] Filed: Apr. 3, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 347,467 57 ABSTRACT Adouble-sided display sign for use by gas stations and [52] US. Cl.40/142 the like The Sign i made from a plurality f rolled [51] Int. Cl.G09f 7/02 metal Sections A first set of rolled metal Sections are [58]Field of Search 40/140, 142, 143, 63, 124 assembled to f a rectangular fA doublesided sign board is mounted within the frame and is [56]References cued fabricated from a plurality of two differently shapedUNITED STATES PATENTS rolled metal sections to provide a plurality ofverti- 3,059,363 10/1962 Mack 40 140 Cally Spaced, horizontal displayelement pp 3,173,220 3/1965 Lachenmeir... 40/140 bers on each side ofthe sign board. Display elements 3,404,476 10/1968 Hoffman 40/142 R arereleasably attached to said support members by 3,477,159 11 1/1969 Bank40/l 40 atta hment c]ip 3,574,964 4/1972 Ownbe'y 40/l40 3,458,945 8/1969Edwards 40 140 6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures SIGN BOARD This inventionrelates to display signs and more particularly to a fabricated,double-sided display sign.

Fabricated display signs have been provided heretofore, but adisadvantage of such prior art display signs is that they are costly,due to the materials employed and the structural arrangement of suchsigns. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea novel and improved display sign which overcomes the aforementioneddisadvantage of the prior art display signs. I

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel andimproved display sign which is simple and compact in construction,economical to manufacture andefficient in use. The display sign of thepresent invention is economically fabricated from a small number ofrolled metal sections which provides a display sign having maximumstrength at a minimum cost, as compared to similar size prior art signs.The display sign of the present invention employs molded letters, andother display elements, which provide optimum use characteristics,because such molded letters will not chip and they are attached to thesign board by an efficient attachment clip means to prevent the lettersfrom being blown off the sign board in high winds. The display elementsand attachment clip means employed provides the further advantage ofease of changing signs on the sign board. The molded display elementsare also weather-resistant.

It is another object to provide a display sign that includes a frameincluding a top horizontal frame member, a bottom horizontal framemember spaced from said top frame member and a pair of side framemembers fixed to said top and bottom frame members to form a rectangularframe; a double-sided sign board mounted within said frame members andsecured thereto; an upper end member having a vertical leg secured tothe top frame member and the pair of side frame members and providedwith an integral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to one side of theframe,

and said arm having 'a horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge;a lower end member having a vertical leg secured to the bottom framemember and the pair of side frame members, and provided with anintegral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to the other side of theframe, said last mentioned arm having a' horizontal half-bead formedalong its outer edge; and a horizontal member disposed between saidupper end member and said lower end member and comprising a BRIEFDESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a broken elevational view of asign board made in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first-rolled section employed infabricating the sign board illustrated in a FIG. 1.

horizontal plate secured to the horizontal arms of said upper and lowerend members to form a display element support arm' on each side ofthe'sign board; and said horizontal member having a horizontal half-beadformed along each of the longitudinal edges thereof and complementary tothe adjacent half-beads'formed on said horizontal arms to form acomplete horizontal bead along each of the display element support armson each side of said sign board; and, attachment clip means forreleasably mounting display elements, such as letters, on each side ofthe sign board.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will beapparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, andthe accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second-rolled section employed infabricating the sign board illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a changeable letter made in accordancewith the principles of the invention for mounting on the sign boardillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational section view of theletter structure illustrated in FIG. 4, taken along the line 5-5thereof, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a'clip employed in the inventionfor mounting letters of the type illustrated in FIG. 4 on the sign boardillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the letter clip structure illustrated inFIG. 6, taken along the line 7--7 thereof, and looking in the directionof the arrows.

FIG. 8 is a broken, enlarged, elevational section view of the sign boardstructure illustrated in FIG. 1, taken along the line 88 thereof, andlooking in the direction DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTReferring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. ll,-the numeral10 generally indicates a sign board .made in accordance'with theprinciples of the present invention. The sign board 10 includes arectangular supporting frame which comprises a pair of vertical sideframe members, generally indicated by the numeral 11, and a pair ofhorizontal top and bottom frame members, generallyindicated by thenumeral 12. The ends of the frame members 11 and 12 are mitered at a 45angle, and they are joined to each other and welded together at the fourmitered joints indicated by the numerals l3.

Each of the frame members 11 and 12 comprises a rolled angular channelmember made from a suitable material, as for example l4-gauge coldrolled steel. As

shown in FIG. 8, each of the frame members 12 includes a horizontal leg14, to one end of which is integrally formed an inwardly extended leg 15disposed at an acute angle relative to the leg 14. Integrally formed onthe inner end of the angular leg 15 is an integral attachment flange 16.It will be understood that each of the frame side members 11 isidentical to the frame channels 12, as shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIGS. 8- and 9, the sign board structure within theframemembers 11 and I2 is formed from a plurality of rolled sections,generally indicated by the numerals 17 and 18, which are separatelyillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the

opposite direction at a perpendicular angle from the bottom of the leg19. The arms and 22 are parallel to each other. Integrally formed on theouter edge of the upper arm 20 is an upwardly facing half-round bead 21.The other arm 22 is provided along its outer edge with a downwardlyfacing half-round bead 23.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second rolled section 18 includes a horizontalplate portion 24 which has a downwardly facing half-round bead 26 alongone'longitudinal edge thereof, and an upwardly facing half-round beadalong the other longitudinal edge thereof.

As shown in FIG. 8, the upper end of the sign board is formed from oneof the first rolled sections 17, but with the upper arm 20 removed. Thevertical leg 19 is welded directly to the frame attachment flanges 16 ofthe top and side frame members. As further shown in FIG. 8, the bottomarm 22 of said upper end section 17 is seated on a horizontally disposedrolled section 18 so as to position the upwardly facing half-bead 25 inalignment with the downwardlyfacing half-bead 23 on the arm 22 to form acircular bead at the end of the arm 22. Disposed below the uppermostrolled section 18 is a complete rolled section 17, with its upper arm 20in abutment against'the uppermost rolled section plate 24. Thedownwardly facing half-bead 26 on the plate 24 is aligned with theupwardly facing half-round bead 21 on the arm 20 to form a circular beadon the opposite side of the board. It will be seen, that by alternatestacking of the rolled sections 17 and 18, a complete two-sided signboard is provided, as shown at FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, with evenly spacedapart horizontal arms that carry horizontally disposed rounded orcircular beads for attachment of letters, as more fully describedhereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 8, the lowermost rolled section 17 has the lower arm 22removed, so that the leg 19 can be welded directly to the bottom framemember 12 and the side frame members 11. As shown in FIG. 2, each end ofthe arms 20 and 22 of the rolled sections 17 is cut off short of theends of the leg 19 to provide an extension of the leg 19 for welding tothe side frame members 11. It will be understood that the rolledsections 17 and 18 may be made from any suitable material, as forexample, a 20-gauge cold rolled steel. The rolled sections 17 and 18 arepreferably spot welded together.

It will be understood that the rolled sections 17 and 18 may be coveredwith any suitable paint, of any desired color. Also, any method ofapplying the paint may be used, as for example, the rolled sections 17and 18 may be coated with a baked enamel.

For decorative purposes, the frame members 11 and 12 may be providedwith decorative coverings indicated by the numerals 27 and 29. Each ofthe covering sheets 27 is provided with .an integral flange 28 along theinner edge thereof which seats against the attachment flange 16 on theframe members 11 and 12. The second set of cover strips 29 are disposedon the opposite sideof the frame members 1 1 and 12, and are eachprovided with an integral flange 30 that seats against the rolledsection vertical legs 19. The decorative cover strips 27 and 29 aresecured to the sign board by any suitable means, as by a plurality ofbolts 31 and nuts 32. The decorative cover strips 27 and 29 may be madefrom any suitable material as, for example, from aluminum. The coverstrips 27 and 29 may also be colored, as desired.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, the round beads formed by the half-roundbeads on the rolled sections 17 and 18 are indicated generally by thenumerals 33. The beads 33 are spaces approximately 6 inches apart andform a plurality of horizontally disposed attachment members, togetherwith their supporting arms for supporting a plurality of letters 34 oneach side of the sign board.

A changeable letter 34 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and it is made fromany suitable material, as for example, from a suitable molded plasticmaterial. The illustrated letter 34 is'provided with a pair ofvertically spaced apart holes 35 which are rectangular in shape and havea bounding wall surface along each side thereof which convergesrearwardly from the front face of the letter. It will be understood thatother letters could have more than two of the holes 35 which convergeinwardly, and it is possible in some instances to have letters with onlyone of the converging holes 35. Each of the letters 34 is adapted to beoperatively mounted on the sign board by one or more of the attachmentclips shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and generally indicated by the numeral 36.

The clips 36 are formed from any suitable material, as for example, asuitable molded plastic material of the same type as used for theletters 34. Each of the letter attachment clips 36 includes abodyportion 37 which has an integral contoured, rectangular head on one endthereof, as indicated by the numeral 38. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, thefour side surfaces of the rectangular head 38 converge rearwardly so asto mate with and be seated in gripping engagement with the convergingsurfaces of a contoured hole 35in one of the letters 34. The front faceof the head 38 is flat, so as to be disposed parallel with the frontface of a letter 34, as shown in FIG. 8.

The clip body 37 is provided at the rear end of the head upper and lowerconverging surfaces 39 with a raised portion or rib 40. It will be seenthat an attachment clip 36 may be extended through an opening 35 in aletter 34, and that the ribs 40 will snap through the inner edge of thehole 35 and then protrude upwardly along the rear face of the letter toreleasably hold the letter on the attachment clip 36.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the attachment clips 36 is providedwith a pair of integral spaced apart legs 41 which have flat outer ends43 that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the attachmentclip. Each of the legs 41 is provided with a substantially halfroundtransverse recess 42 on the inner surface thereof, at a point spacedinwardly from the end 43. As shown in FIG. 8, the clips 36 are adaptedto be mounted over the circular beads 33 so that a head 33 is seated inthe circular pocket formed by the two half-round recesses in the legs41. Thelegs 41, due to their inherent resiliency, provide an inwardlydirected clamping force on a head 33 and the supporting arm of the signboard. The clip legs 41 are formed to a predetermined length so that theends 43 abut the rolled section vertical legs 19.

In use, the letters 34 may be made to any desired height, as forexample, 7% inches. The vertical distance between the centers of theholes 35 on a 7% inches letter would be 6 inches. The method ofattaching the letters 34 to the sign board by means of the attachmentclips 36 is illustrated in FIG. 8. Letters, like the letter M, may beprovided with a plurality of holes 35 for employing a plurality ofattachment clips 36. The sign board may be mounted on any suitablesupporting structure, as for example, on a pair of suitable posts havingtheir lower ends fixedly mounted in the ground, or any other supportingstructure.

It will be understood that other display elements may be mounted on thesign board of the present invention, as for example, numbers to indicatethe price of a product being advertised for sale. The term displayelement as used hereinafter in the claims is meant to include letters,numbers, symbols, characters, designs and all other items that may beincorporated in a display sign.

It will be understood that a sign board of the present invention may bemade to any desired size and with any number of horizontal circularbeads 33 on each side thereof. For example, a sign board of the typeused by a service station to advertise various services, may be one thatis five feet high and eight feet long within the frame portion of thesign board. It will be understood that a sign board made in accordancewith the principles of the present invention may be made with only onecircular bead 33 on each side of the sign, or with a plurality ofcircular beads 33 on each side of the sign. In the first instance a signwith only one circular bead would comprise an upper rolled sectionmember 17 with the upper arm removed, a lower rolled section member 17with the lower arm 22 removed, and an intermediate rolled section member18 mounted between the two partial rolled section members 17. The framemembers 11 and 12 would be mounted around such structure which wouldprovide one horizontal circular bead 33 on each side thereof.

A sign board made in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention could be formed with two horizontal circular beads on eachside of the sign board by adding to the last described structure atleast one more rolled section 17 and at least one more rolled section18. The addition of a predetermined number of rolled sections 17 and 18to the aforementioned single bead structure would add a correspondingpredetermined number of horizontal circular beads to each side of a signboard made in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated,it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change.

What is claimed is:

1. In a display sign thecombination comprising:

a. a frame including a top horizontal frame member,

-a bottom horizontal frame member spaced from said top frame member anda pair of side frame I members fixed to said top and bottom frame members to form a rectangular frame;

' b. a double-sided, sign board mounted within said frame members andsecured thereto and including,

1. an upper end member having a vertical leg secured to the top framemember and the pair of side frame members, and provided with anintergral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to one side of the frame,and said arm having a horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge,

a lower end member having a vertical leg secured to the bottom framemember and the pair of side frame members, and provided with anintegral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to the other side of theframe, said last mentioned arm having a horizontal half-bead formedalong its outer edge, and,

3. a horizontal member disposed between said upper end member and saidlower end member and comprising a horizontal plate secured to thehorizontal arms of said upper and lower end members to form a displayelement support arm on each side of the sign board, and said horizontalmember having a horizontal half-bead formed along each of thelongitudinal edges thereof and complementary to the adjacent half-beadsformed on said horizontal arms to form a complete horizontal bead alongeach of the display element support arms on each side of the sign board.

2. A display sign as defined in claim it, including:

a. at least one vertical member disposed between said upper end memberand said first memtioned horizontal member;

b. at least one additional horizontal member disposed between said upperend member and said last mentioned vertical member and comprising ahorizontal plate having a horizontal half-bead formed along each of thelongitudinal edges thereof;

c. said last mentioned vertical member having a vertical leg and anintegral horizontal upper arm extended outwardly to said other side ofthe frame at the upper end of its vertical leg and an integralhorizontal lower arm extended outwardly to said one side of the frame atthe lower end of itsvertical leg, and said last mentioned arms eachhaving a horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge; and,

d. said additional horizontal member being secured to the horizontal armof said upper end member and to said upper arm on said last mentionedvertical member, and said first mentioned horizontal member beingsecured to said lower arm on said last mentioned vertical member and tothe horizontal am on said lower end member, whereby said arms andhorizontal members form at least a pair of display element support armson each side of the sign board, and the half-beads formed on therespective adjacent members form a complete horizontal bead along eachof the display element support arms on each side of the sign board. I

3. The sign board as defined in claim 2, wherein:

a. a plurality of said additional vertical members and additionalhorizontal members are included to provide' a plurality of displayelement support arms and complete horizontal beads along each side ofsaid sign board.

4. The sign board as defined in claim 2, including:

a. at least one display element; and,

b. means for detachably' mounting said display element on at least oneof said display element support arms and horizontal beads.

5. The sign board as defined-in claim 4, wherein:

'a. said means for detachably mounting said display element comprises anattachment clip having means on one endfor supporting said displayelement and means on the other end thereof for releasably securing theclip to one of said display element support arms and horizontal beads.

6. The sign board as defined in claim 5, wherein:

a. said display element is provided with a contoured opening, and saidmeans on said one end of. the attachment clip comprises a contoured headwhich is releasabiy mounted in said display elementcontoured opening forreleasably supporting the display element on the attachment clip.

Patent No, 3,793,757 Dated February 26, 1974 Inventor) George E.Jaquillard It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the drawings, "Sheet 1 of 3" should be Sheet 1 of 2 "Sheet 2 of 3"should be Sheet 2 of 2 "Sheet 3 of 3" should be eliminated. On theAbstract page under "References Cited," before "Ownbey," "4/1972" shouldbe 4/1971 Column 4, line 4, "spaces" should be spaced Signedland sealedthis 9th day of July 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M} GIBSONQJR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer: Commissioner ofPatents FORM PC4050 (IO-69) I USCOMM-DC 60876-1 69 w u.s. sovzmmsm'manna OFFICE Ian o-ass-au.

1. In a display sign the combination comprising: a. a frame including atop horizontal frame member, a bottom horizontal frame member spacedfrom said top frame member and a pair of side frame members fixed tosaid top and bottom frame members to form a rectangular frame; b. adouble-sided sign board mounted within said frame members and securedthereto and including,
 1. an upper end member having a vertical legsecured to the top frame member and the pair of side frame members, andprovided with an intergral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to oneside of the frame, and said arm having a horizontal half-bead formedalong its outer edge,
 2. a lower end member having a vertical legsecured to the bottom frame member and the pair of side frame members,and provided with an integral, horizontal arm extended outwardly to theother side of the frame, said last mentioned arm having a horizontalhalf-bead formed along its outer edge, and,
 3. a horizontal memberdisposed between said upper end member and said lower end member andcomprising a horizontal plate secured to the horizontal arms of saidupper and lower end members to form a display element support arm oneach side of the sign board, and said horizontal member having ahorizontal half-bead formed along each of the longitudinal edges thereofand complementary to the adjacent half-beads formed on said horizontalarms to form a complete horizontal bead along each of the displayelement support arms on each side of the sign board.
 2. a lower endmember having a vertical leg secured to the bottom frame member and thepair of side frame members, and provided with an integral, horizontalarm extended outwardly to the other side of the frame, said lastmentioned arm having a horizontal half-bead formed along its outer edge,and,
 2. A display sign as defined in claim 1, including: a. at least onevertical member disposed between said upper end member and said firstmemtioned horizontal member; b. at least one additional horizontalmember disposed between said upper end member and said last mentionedvertical member and comprising a horizontal plate having a horizontalhalf-bead formed along each of the longitudinal edges thereof; c. saidlast mentioned vertical member having a vertical leg and an integralhorizontal upper arm extended outwardly to said other side of the frameat the upper end of its vertical leg and an integral horizontal lowerarm extended outwardly to said one side of the frame at the lower end ofits vertical leg, and said last mentioned arms each having a horizontalhalf-bead formed along its outer edge; and, d. said additionalhorizontal member being secured to the horizontal arm of said upper endmember and to said upper arm on said last mentioned vertical member, andsaid first mentioned horizontal member being secured to said lower armon said last mentioned vertical member and to the horizontal arm on saidlower end member, whereby said arms and horizontal members form at leasta pair of display element support arms on each side of the sign board,and the half-beads formed on the respective adjacent members form acomplete Horizontal bead along each of the display element support armson each side of the sign board.
 3. The sign board as defined in claim 2,wherein: a. a plurality of said additional vertical members andadditional horizontal members are included to provide a plurality ofdisplay element support arms and complete horizontal beads along eachside of said sign board.
 3. a horizontal member disposed between saidupper end member and said lower end member and comprising a horizontalplate secured to the horizontal arms of said upper and lower end membersto form a display element support arm on each side of the sign board,and said horizontal member having a horizontal half-bead formed alongeach of the longitudinal edges thereof and complementary to the adjacenthalf-beads formed on said horizontal arms to form a complete horizontalbead along each of the display element support arms on each side of thesign board.
 4. The sign board as defined in claim 2, including: a. atleast one display element; and, b. means for detachably mounting saiddisplay element on at least one of said display element support arms andhorizontal beads.
 5. The sign board as defined in claim 4, wherein: a.said means for detachably mounting said display element comprises anattachment clip having means on one end for supporting said displayelement and means on the other end thereof for releasably securing theclip to one of said display element support arms and horizontal beads.6. The sign board as defined in claim 5, wherein: a. said displayelement is provided with a contoured opening, and said means on said oneend of the attachment clip comprises a contoured head which isreleasably mounted in said display element contoured opening forreleasably supporting the display element on the attachment clip.